Caprock Canyons State Park Unveils New Exhibits Nov. 15

QUITAQUE, Texas—Caprock Canyons State Park and Trailway will unveil new interpretive exhibits to help tell the park story, with guided tours and other activities planned for the general public Saturday, Nov. 15. The day before the public unveiling, dozens of students from area schools will get a sneak peek at the new exhibits Friday, Nov. 14.

The additions include interior exhibits at the park’s newly constructed $1 million visitor center opened last year, new exterior interpretive wayside signs at the bison overlook adjacent to the visitor center, and a complete overhaul of the existing exhibits at the park’s outdoor Interpretive Pavilion.

New interior exhibits at the visitor center include four different "zones," each with a different content focus: geology of the canyonlands, the North American bison, the ecology of the canyonlands, and the story of the Trailway.

The exterior interpretive waysides at the bison overlook interpret the near-extermination of the North American bison during the 1800s, Charles Goodnight’s efforts to protect the animals, and the story of the Texas State Bison Herd at Caprock Canyons.

The new interpretive exhibits at the Interpretive Pavilion tell the human story of the canyonlands, revealing the lifeways of various cultural groups, including native people, Hispanics and Anglos.

Student groups on Nov. 14 will partake in several indoor and outdoor activities led by staff members. Various experts will discuss many aspects of the Canyonlands, and students will learn about relevant subjects such as bison, pioneer life and fossils. Student groups will be hosted from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Nov. 15, the exhibit will open to the general public. In the morning, staff will be available to answer questions and children will be given activity booklets to complete while observing the exhibit. From 2 p.m. till 4 p.m. children’s games will be offered including clay marble making, pin the tail on the bison, horse shoes, woodblock puzzles, string games and more. At 4 p.m., chuck wagon-centered activities will be offered, including a molasses taffy pull, butter making, and a Dutch oven demonstration. At 6 p.m. the unveiling will conclude with a community potluck dinner.

Caprock Canyons State Park is located 100 miles southeast of Amarillo in Briscoe County. It consists of 15,313.6 acres, including a 64.25 mile hike, bike and equestrian trailway, and is home of the official Texas State Bison Herd. The park offers day-use and camping facilities, hiking, an overnight cabin, horseback riding, mountain biking, boating on a no-wake lake, fishing, lake swimming, a scenic drive, guided tours, and seasonal concessions offering mountain bike rentals. The park is 3.5 miles north of State Highway 86 in Quitaque on FM 1065.